An Etihad Airways Airbus A340-600 today performed a low-altitude aerial salute to Sydney Opera House as part of the iconic venue’s 40th birthday celebrations.

The
aircraft operating the commemorative flight – EY9240 – flew at approximately 2000
feet over the World Heritage-listed venue and along the Sydney Harbour
foreshore at 10.50am (Australian Eastern Summer Time).

The fly
past was watched by more than 10,000who had gathered at Sydney Opera House for
a special ‘Cake and A Song’ event to celebrate the venue’s actual birthday.

James
Hogan, Etihad Airways’ President and Chief Executive Officer said: “As a
partner of Sydney Opera House we are delighted to be part of its 40th
birthday celebrations.

“On
behalf of the Etihad Airways’ 16,500 staff worldwide, I extend our best wishes
to the Government of New South Wales, Sydney Opera House Trust, and the people
of Sydney on this special occasion.

“We are
immensely proud to be the official international airline of Sydney Opera House
and to support its mission to create, produce and present the most acclaimed, imaginative and engaging
performing arts experiences from Australia and around the world.”

In command of the
historic flight on A6-EHK (the aircraft registration) was chief pilot of the
airline’s A340/330 fleet, Captain Giorgio Evangelisti. He was joined in the
cockpit by Captain Gregory McCarthy and First Officer John Redward.

The Abu Dhabi-based
airline is a major partner of the world-renowned performing arts venue which is
famously located at Bennelong Point on the Sydney Harbour foreshore. Its
sponsorship of Sydney Opera House is the airline’s most valuable and most
significant arts and cultural investment worldwide.

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